Reviews

HONOR X9c 5G review: Tough and steady

It’s tough, but more importantly, it works just fine

Published

February 17, 2025

The HONOR X9c 5G works well for its price point. In case you’re still undecided and still need further convincing, that’s all you have to know.

More than the well-touted durability and water resistance, HONOR did not sacrifice performance so it can work together with these physical strengths.

Of course, you may have probably seen countless drop tests here and there throughout the campaign period for the device. Creators did pretty much everything they could to wear down the world record-setting handset.

HONOR Philippines’ own team, meanwhile, dropped it from a helicopter flying 500 feet above the ground.

But while durability is a useful add-on, it’s still secondary to performance. And that’s chiefly what you’re buying a phone for. Feel free to scroll down until the end of this review to make up your mind.

HONOR X9c 5G specs

The HONOR X9c is now in its general sale period. It’s priced at PhP 16,999 (about US$ 290), making it a “lower midrange” device. Here are some specs for those in need:

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm)
Platform: MagicOS 8.0 (Android 14)
RAM: 12GB physical, plus 12GB virtual RAM
Storage: 256GB
Display: 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, 4,000nits peak brightness, 437ppi pixel density
6,600mAh Silicon-carbon battery
66W HONOR SuperCharge

On paper, the X9c has an IP65M water and dust resistance rating. It’s also drop resistant at up to two meters.

In addition, here are the X9c’s cameras:

1/1.67-inch 108MP f/1.8 main camera with PDAF, OIS
5MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera
16MP f/2.5 selfie camera

Tough…

Let’s be honest: we will not consciously try to destroy this phone or boil it on purpose. But the reason behind all of the content you’ve seen is to show just how tough the HONOR X9c is, especially in a real-world scenario.

Clinical (or lab) tests are done in a controlled environment. Situations in real life that may happen to you just spring out of the blue. And that’s what the phone’s toughness is for.

There’s just hundreds and hundreds of scenarios where you can bank on the phone’s toughness. It could be just simple accidental drops or water splashes, or a bit more extreme cases.

In my case, the phone served as my chief handset while jogging as I am assured nothing will happen even when there is a sudden downpour. I can even take this phone to play basketball or football and not worry about dropping it on hard concrete courts or wooden futsal courts.

…and steady

As I’ve mentioned, beyond the X9c’s durability, it works just fine. With a reliable chipset, you can browse endlessly on social media or streaming apps with the phone.

You can use it for gaming and it will work as well for titles like Honor of Kings or the more demanding Honkai: Star Rail. With proper internet connection, you can get low latency of up to just 8ms.

You can also multitask a bit on this phone. But if you’re a heavy user, you may want to opt for HONOR’s upper midrange offering, the HONOR 200 series (or any other brand with a PhP 25,000 and above price tag).

In my case, while importing videos I took at 1080@60p to my go-to editing app, there’s a bit of stuttering during playback. But these minor hiccups are manageable. Casual browsing and light to medium usage on a daily basis should be alright in general.

And since the X9c has a 6,600mAh battery, you can use it for an entire day for the aforementioned tasks. Chances are, you won’t need to go to a cafe to recharge even if you’re out all day.

But even if you’ve drained it, its 66W fast charging capability is a bonus. You can replenish it up to 80% in just an hour. Even just a 30-minute quick recharge is more than enough to take you home connected.

Appearance, feel

The HONOR X9c 5G unit I reviewed came in Titanium Purple. It’s also available in Titanium Black and Jade Cyan.

At first glance, it looks thin and lightweight. There’s enough balance to it. Using Silicon-carbon material for its battery allows for a slightly thinner profile.

It’s not too slippery, but not something I’d put on my lap as well. But hey, that’s why it’s durable in the first place. The backside is also a sucker for fingerprints.

It has speakers on both the top and bottom edges. There’s the usual SIM card slot and USB-C inlet as well.

You’ll find the volume and power buttons on the right side.

The camera island is still in the upper half of the back. The main difference is the island’s protruding ring around it, mimicking a luxury watch. Hence the Rolex giveaway collaboration. The HONOR Logo is on the lower third of the back to complete the look.

Display

Onto its front panel, the phone has a curved display. I’m personally not a fan as it just zooms in the 16:9 videos I upload on social media and kind of cuts what’s on the seams.

But it’s more expansive than other midrange phones I’ve tried. There’s more thickness to it’s width. That makes it better for content consumption and gaming.

The quality is fine, given it’s high pixel density and the material it uses (AMOLED). The high maximum brightness is useful for situations like using it outdoors under the hot sun.

It’s also smooth with up to a 120Hz refresh rate. Scrolling and switching between apps do not take too long. You can see the smoothness with your eyes.

Another aspect that’s great about the display is that it’s tough and scratch-resistant. It adds to the stylishness of the phone, if that’s important to you.

UI: A few quirks here and there

As for its user interface, I have mixed comments. First, the phone comes with Microsoft SwiftKey, as its default keyboard. I had to download the Google Keyboard to switch to the latter.

Microsoft SwiftKey was just weird to use. The suggestions are something I do not need and are just bothering to see on the screen. And it leads to typos. And I exhausted every possible corner of my phone to toggle it off but to no avail.

Second, under Power Saving Mode, which is my default, whenever I use a phone, the maximum screen time is just 30 seconds. It’s not editable unlike other brands’ phones.

Then, on the home screen, you have to swipe down on the left for notifications and on the right for settings and brightness and volume adjustment. I prefer having all of these in one drawer. Some friends told me it’s because of HONOR trying to mimic the iPhone UI in a way.

Also, when gaming, even under Do Not Disturb, a swipe from the side will open the view for all currently opened apps. This shouldn’t happen. There should be an extra swipe from the top-hand side (when holding it horizontally while gaming) to turn the Do Not Disturb mode off first.

On the positive end, it’s good that the phone has a few AI features users can take advantage of. The built-in AI Eraser feature is decent.

It also supports Magic Portal, so you can do a bit of cross-OS collaboration. I happen to own an HONOR Magicbook Pro 16 so I was able to test this.

Cameras: Par for its price

As for its camera system, the HONOR X9c’s main camera gets you clear and vibrant captures. Everyday scenery, food, landscapes, cityscapes, and everything in between all come out ready for posting on social media.

Captures come out with enough vividness and color for me, i.e. they do not look dull. You are guaranteed of good detail up to about 3X or 4X zoom, which is quite impressive already.

For the most part, they’re color accurate. There are just times where brown-colored subjects come out a little more orangey or pinkish, and vice-versa. But it’s fine. I guess it depends on the light source, too.

Shots taken from different focal lengths/zoom modes, for comparison:

Ultra-wide.

Wide/1X zoom.

2X zoom.

Ultra-wide.

Wide/1X zoom.

Ultra-wide.

Wide/1X zoom.

2X zoom.

3X zoom.

Food looks appetizing, but not oversaturated:

Selfies are likewise of good quality. There’s a good balance of naturalness and smoothness. You’ll be satisfied especially if you wanna hide those big pores like me.

This one made my face look too rosy, as if I had an allergy attack.

With two Uys — Ed and Den.

AI Eraser works decently too, but don’t expect magic.

Original selfie.

After AI Eraser edits.

Another positive aspect is its fast shutter. You can have moderately fast-moving subjects frozen in your shots. That’s where the PDAF and OIS, as well as the AI Motion Sensing come in to provide you a lift.

Moreover, Night Mode captures aren’t overdone. They just give the image ample processing to retain more detail and to look properly-exposed.

Portrait Mode is hit-or-miss, but with enough patience, you can pull off decent captures. Sometimes, there’s segmentation error, but it’s understandable.

Getting portraits really depends on how simple you juxtapose the subject against the foreground and background at times. You might also need a more powerful processor and engine as well.

I didn’t use it that often since shooting with the default mode already sufficed to emphasize subjects.

Out-of-focus versus portrait capture pulled off well.

Default shooter versus Portrait Mode with shallow DOF.

Videography: Above par

What stood out for me is the filming capabilities on the device. With OIS, the camera will reduce the shakiness of the videos you take.

Granted, the phone does not eliminate it totally, but for its price point, I’m very satisfied with the decently smooth captures using the device. I’ve done numerous shortform videos on the X9c which I’ve posted across my personal vlog channels.

If this is the only device you can afford for now, pairing it with a stabilizer or even just a cheap monopod will minimize the shaking even further. It’s a good phone to use if you’re getting started on creating content, short movies, or even projects for school.

Furthermore, I’m also fond of how it makes subjects stand out when filming. I didn’t realize this at first but after viewing, there’s just this effect where the background looks blurred in a good way, especially when taking clips of people.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Swipe Left: If you’re not after the durability and water resistance features too much, and would rather invest your resources for slightly better performance or camera packages, there are arguably more reliable devices in the market for that, just about in the same price range as the X9c.

Swipe Right: If you’re coming from a budget-level phone, and you’re looking for something that can definitely endure daily wear-and-tear and comes with better cameras and performance, the HONOR X9c is worthy of a look.

This phone is tailor-made for a wide-range of customers. Students, blue-collar workers, small business owners, employee falling under the lower middle class income, and even the elderly can all benefit from this device. It’s a phone that can give you the perfect balance of durability and reliability.

Of course, that’s if you’re on a budget and do not have the spending power to get a flagship device. With such assurance, you can bring this phone with you 24/7. It has long-lasting battery, a capable camera package for you to create memories with, and the promise it won’t break no matter what the adventure is.

Reviews

The realme P4 Power: realme’s midrange power play?

A power bank and a phone — and more

Published

June 19, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

Whenever a brand slaps a “long battery life” label on a box, we take it with a grain of salt.

Even as smartphone battery capacities have become larger as of late, endurance is still subjective. It’s heavily dependent on your daily screen time, signal strength, and other habits.

But when a smartphone lands on your desk with a gargantuan 10,001mAh battery, then that subjectivity basically goes right out the window.

That’s what the realme P4 Power chiefly brings to the Philippine market for the first time, in the brand’s P series relatively quiet debut in the country.

It’s here to eliminate low-battery anxiety and render your bulky external power banks completely obsolete.

Tether-less freedom

We wielded this device for weeks as a primary daily driver, and the endurance is nothing short of black magic.

The daily rotation included endless social media scrolling, video streaming, continuous navigation, and a relentless stress test: serving as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot for up to three separate devices simultaneously.

Through all that usage, the phone flat-out refused to die. I didn’t consciously “try” to drain it. I just know it would last an entire day for up to the wee hours.

When acting as a multi-device router, the chassis does heat up slightly, but it never crosses into alarming or uncomfortable territory.

It simply sips power, providing a level of tether-less freedom that no standard 5,000mAh or 6,000mAh smartphone can replicate.

When it is finally time to recharge the device, it supports 80W SUPERVOOC charging so you won’t have to spend hours waiting.

Even if you don’t replenish it back up to 100%, an hour’s worth of charging should keep you going the extra distance.

Immersive visuals, casual performance

The massive battery pairs beautifully with a expansive 6.8-inch 144Hz AMOLED display. With a high, 453ppi pixel density and 1280 x 2800 resolution, media consumption and gaming become highly engaging — at least from a visuals standpoint.

There is a wider aspect ratio so you don’t get a comically long phone, and a curved screen. We aren’t typical fond of this but the curvature seems subtle, meaning no accidental edge touches.

When it comes to performance, the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra chipset handles everyday tasks and casual, less-demanding titles with absolute ease.

However, when jumping into competitive matches of Call of Duty: Mobile or exploring the heavy landscapes of Honkai: Star Rail, you will encounter frame drops and stuttering from time to time.

It’s never jarring enough to ruin your match or hinder what you’re trying to do, but it does occasionally disrupt an otherwise smooth gaming experience.

If anything, there’s Championship Mode and GT Mode to optimize the device for such tasks. Bypass Charging is a bonus so you can keep playing without the risk of device overheating.

Audio is loud but somewhat flat, but I didn’t expect much.

Heavy, mecha-inspired tank

That display curvature is part of the phone’s overall aesthetic. Around the back, the realme P4 Power embraces its “all about power” persona with a distinct, machine-inspired design language.

The upper half where the camera island is located, in particular, look aggressive and sharp, as if a nod to mobile gaming. The colorway for this unit is silver metallic.

However, housing a 10,000mAh cell requires a serious physical compromise: weight. This phone is significantly, undeniably heavy.

The sheer heft is a constant reminder of the juice it carries, to the point where switching back to a “normal” smartphone yields a stark, instantly noticeable contrast in your hand and pockets.

Reliable main camera, lagging selfies

For its camera package, the realme P4 Power comes with a dependable 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX882 sensor.

I didn’t exactly “test” the camera but just naturally used it whenever I was out and about. Hence, I ended up with plenty of food, product reviews, and random finds.

Performance is decent, with the 1x to 1.5x range being the sweet spot. Compared to budget devices, there is definitely more detail and texture.

Color reproduction is likewise amenable, with some depth and acceptable clarity. But camera-centric mid-rangers can obviously offer punchier, more “popped-up” contrast.

With OIS, video recording is likewise smooth. It’s usable for casual vlogging, although lighting is still the catch. You’ll need an extra tofu light for instance, which sacrifices the portability of the phone itself.

@manilaconnoisseur

Dropped by Daily Beer Korean Chicken and Beer in ArcoVia, Pasig for some food after a team meeting!

♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

The selfie camera, meanwhile, also lags compared to older realme number series devices I’ve used. Sharpness, vividness, and color accuracy are lacking.

@manilaconnoisseur

Lipton Soda Iced Tea, now available in Berry Burst flavor! Zero sugar pa rin! Check out now. @Pepsi Philippines #LiptonSodaIcedTea #LiptonSoda #LiptonSodaBerryBurst #LiptonSodaZeroSugar

♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

Built to survive the elements

As an added bonus, realme didn’t sacrifice ruggedness for the sake of capacity. The handset comes armed with a familiar IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, including high-pressure water jets and submersion.

We took it out on outdoor jogs, and heavy sweat didn’t cause a single issue. Even when dealing with moisture, the display’s touch optimization remained responsive.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The realme P4 Power sits right in the competitive PhP 25,999 price bracket. In an era where smartphone prices are continuously climbing, it still offers a value proposition as an all-around mid-range device.

Think of it as buying a standard mid-ranger plus a power bank, minus the double pocket clutter. Long-term battery degradation remains to be seen but it seems the device is a fair purchase for power users.

It’s a close call, but the P4 Power is still a Swipe Right especially if your lifestyle demands endless battery life above all else.

Reviews

HONOR Watch 6 Review: Less guessing, more knowing

Beyond educated guesses

Published

June 18, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

After a week with the HONOR Watch 6, I realized I liked having data on things I normally would just leave to uneducated guesses.

I love seeing my sleep metrics, knowing if my heart is actually racing, and seeing notifications on the fly. These are things I find truly helpful in how I go about life currently. That’s why I can already see myself using the watch beyond the review period.

The thing is, I wasn’t expecting any of this.

The first thing that jumped out at me when I first wore the HONOR Watch 6 was that it barely felt like it was there. I was half expecting it to be this chunky-feeling thing. But it wasn’t. I was pleasantly surprised.

I have the silver model with the brown leather strap, and it feels light to wear. That was key for me because what I really wanted to track more than anything was my sleep.

The only time I really started to notice that I was wearing it practically all the time was around the fifth or sixth day. And honestly, that says a lot because I tend to want to take off most of the smartwatches I’ve used in the past.

A smartwatch that fits daily life

The brown leather strap is inoffensive in the best possible way. It blends well with both casual wear and smart casual outfits, which made it easy to keep on throughout the week.

In fact, I think it looks more at home during everyday life than during intense workouts.

That’s why I found myself looking at the HONOR Watch 6 less as a fitness watch and more as a health tracker that looks nice and tells me if there’s a proverbial fire I need to put out — or if she remembered me that day.

The display also quietly did its job.

Of course it’s a TWICE notification

You know, I didn’t even think about it. Whenever I needed to check the time or glance at a notification, I simply gestured as anyone would to look at their watch. No matter where I was, what I needed to see was readily visible.

That’s probably the highest compliment I can give a smartwatch display. It never gave me a reason to think about it.

Managing attention without reaching for my phone

Oof. I cannot overstate how many notifications I get on any given day.

As a Managing Editor with occasional side hustles, notifications come from multiple messaging apps. One moment I’m tracking production progress on WhatsApp, the next I’m checking what the team is discussing on Telegram. Then there are the emails, Messenger messages from friends, and the “… sent you a reel” notifications that have recently dropped in frequency to my dismay.

I don’t always want to pull out my phone to check these.

What I appreciated most about the HONOR Watch 6 is that notifications are grouped by app, and each one provides a clean preview. It gives me enough information to quickly assess what needs attention and what can wait.

For someone who is constantly juggling attention, that proved surprisingly useful.

Replacing guesses with data

The feature I was most interested in wasn’t fitness tracking.

It was sleep tracking.

Some time ago, a friend of mine started tracking her sleep and it helped her better regulate her energy throughout the day. I am nowhere near that level of discipline, but I was curious.

Between traveling across time zones, late-night coverage, doomscrolling, revenge bedtime procrastination, and everything else life throws at us, I honestly wasn’t sure if I was getting enough sleep.

What I learned is that I tend to wake up at least once in the middle of the night. Not for anything, really. I just do.

The mornings that felt best were often the nights where my sleep wasn’t interrupted. I know that sounds obvious, but if you’re not actively paying attention, these are the kinds of patterns you can easily miss.

The same goes for heart rate tracking.

During a particularly stressful stretch, I noticed my heart rate was consistently elevated. It wasn’t exactly surprising, but seeing the data attached to the feeling made it feel more real.

That’s what I found myself appreciating most about the HONOR Watch 6. It didn’t magically solve anything. It simply helped me replace assumptions with information.

Battery life that quietly impressed

As of taking the photos, the battery life is at 39% – still coming off the first initial charge.

I charged the watch the moment I unboxed it. Seven days later, it was sitting at 59%.

During that time, I wore it constantly. Notifications were enabled. Health tracking was enabled. I tracked a handful of kettlebell workouts and wore it while sleeping.

I wasn’t exactly pushing the watch to its limits, but I also wasn’t babying it.

The result was a battery experience that quickly faded into the background. That’s exactly what I want from a smartwatch.

Everything else

To be completely honest, I didn’t have the time or bandwidth to thoroughly test every feature.

My workout sessions were limited to a few kettlebell workouts and my usual walking. That said, the breadth of sports tracking available here is impressive. If you can think of an activity, there’s a good chance the HONOR Watch 6 can track it.

Pairing was also straightforward. The initial setup process and software updates went smoothly, even if updates immediately after unboxing remain one of my least favorite parts of testing any device.

My one annoyance came from using the watch with multiple HONOR phones. At times, notifications would arrive twice or arrive at slightly different times depending on which device was relaying them. There’s probably a setting that solves this. I just didn’t have the opportunity to dig deeper.

Same notification, two different phones

As for features like AI Recorder and NFC payments, I simply didn’t encounter situations where they became essential to my routine. That’s not necessarily a criticism. It may simply reflect how different people use smartwatches.

Is the HONOR Watch 6 your GadgetMatch?

Something I don’t think we’ve talked about enough is that the HONOR Watch 6 also works well with an iPhone.

If you don’t particularly like the look of the Apple Watch but still want a smartwatch on your wrist, this is a viable alternative.

The HONOR Watch 6 is for people who want useful technology that blends into everyday life. It looks good enough for casual outings and nicer occasions alike, while still offering the usual smartwatch essentials like health tracking, workout monitoring, notifications, and long battery life.

After about a week with the HONOR Watch 6, I realized I liked having data on things I normally would just leave to uneducated guesses.

Smartwatches aren’t for everyone. But if you fancy having one, the HONOR Watch 6 is an easy swipe right.

It has the right features, excellent battery life, and a design that fits comfortably into many parts of daily life.

That’s really all most people need.

Reviews

HONOR Magic V6 review: The best version of a book-style foldable?

Little left to sacrifice

Published

June 11, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Before I learned when the HONOR Magic V6 review embargo would lift, I had already become aware of the possibility of upcoming wide foldables.

The idea immediately caught my attention because it seemed to address one of the few remaining questions I have about today’s book-style foldables.

They’re excellent productivity devices. The larger, almost square-like display is perfect for multitasking, reading, editing documents, and working with multiple apps at once.

But much of the content we consume today isn’t square.

It’s vertical: Reels. Shorts. TikToks. Fancams.

Or it’s widescreen: YouTube videos. Movies. TV shows.

Book-style foldables can absolutely play these types of content. But when unfolded, they don’t always make the best use of the additional screen space because of their aspect ratio.

That thought lingered in the back of my mind while testing the HONOR Magic V6.

What surprised me was that despite that lingering question, the Magic V6 still made a compelling case for the current form factor. In fact, if the goal is to create a foldable that feels as close as possible to a regular flagship smartphone while still unfolding into a tablet, HONOR may have come closer than anyone else.

The HONOR Magic V6 is priced at RM 7,699 in Malaysia, with pre-orders running from June 4 to 11, 2026 and bundled gifts worth up to RM 3,797.

That’s flagship foldable money. Fortunately, the Magic V6 spends very little time reminding you that it’s a foldable and most of its time convincing you it’s simply a very good smartphone.

It feels like a regular smartphone

The HONOR Magic V6 looks and feels almost too much like a standard slab smartphone that you almost forget it can unfold into a larger screen.

That’s perhaps the most impressive thing about the device.

Most certainly, I felt the Galaxy S26 Ultra more when carrying it compared to the Magic V6. Despite being a foldable, it never feels cumbersome in daily use.

One of the subtle improvements I appreciated most was the button placement.

This is one of those low-key things you don’t really think about at first but becomes important over time. There’s little to no adjustment required when moving from a regular smartphone to the Magic V6 because the buttons sit exactly where you expect them to.

I use it alongside both the HONOR Magic8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the transition feels seamless. That’s something I can’t quite say about the OPPO Find N6, whose power button still sits at a height that feels a little awkward.

Folded, the Magic V6 doesn’t feel like a compromise compared to a traditional flagship.

It simply feels like a regular flagship smartphone.

Unfolded, it feels natural too. The display even feels larger than the Galaxy Z Fold7 and HONOR Magic V5 that I used previously.

And that’s where the appeal of a book-style foldable continues to shine.

Productivity remains the killer feature

The larger display became particularly useful during several production shoots.

I found myself timekeeping to make sure we stayed on schedule while simultaneously checking scripts and production notes. It’s one of those situations where the larger screen immediately proves its value.

On another occasion, I handed the unfolded device to a project lead so she could review a script while planning shots for the day.

It immediately made her stop and consider whether she should get a foldable herself.

Moments like these highlight the unique advantage of book-style foldables.

The larger screen doesn’t just exist for the sake of being larger. It enables workflows that simply aren’t as comfortable on a conventional smartphone.

That’s why, despite my growing curiosity about where foldables go next, the Magic V6 reminded me why this category became appealing in the first place.

Battery confidence is underrated

An overwhelming yes.

That’s my answer when asked whether the battery capacity translates into confidence.

The Magic V6 is an endurance beast.

I never worried about using it folded or unfolded throughout the day. I never worried about taking photos, multitasking, or spending extended periods on the larger display.

For the most part, I simply knew that no matter what I did during a normal day, I’d still have enough battery to get home or reach somewhere I could recharge.

As someone who tends to become conscious about battery life once it drops below 50 percent, that’s saying something.

I also noticed myself worrying about the battery less the more time I spent with the device. I got used to how much power it consumed depending on what I was doing throughout the day.

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold7 and HONOR Magic V5, the Magic V6 feels like it has more endurance.

It also charges faster.

The media consumption question

Did the Magic V6 make me watch more videos than I normally would on a phone?

Not really.

Most of my phone-based video consumption consists of Reels, Shorts, and the occasional K-pop fancam. Longer content usually happens elsewhere. If I’m watching a movie, a series, or even a lengthy YouTube video, I’d much rather do it on a TV or tablet.

For the purposes of this review, I spent some time watching aespa Karina’s “Lemonade” facecam. I figured if there was any content I’d naturally watch on a phone, it would be that.

Folded and held in hand, it’s your typical smartphone viewing affair. In fact, the cover display is still a little narrower than I personally prefer.

You can also prop it up in Flex Mode and watch hands-free, which works surprisingly well when you’re sitting at a desk or table.

When unfolded, things become a little more complicated.

You can watch content in its original aspect ratio and live with the black bars. At night, they practically disappear. In brighter environments, they’re much more noticeable.

You can also pinch to zoom and fill more of the display. This works particularly well for content where the subject stays near the center of the frame. Facecams like Karina’s are a perfect example.

Why is Karina giving so much Shego vibes here?

The challenge is that much of today’s content exists in either 9:16 or 16:9 formats, while book-style foldables unfold into something much closer to a square.

The result is that the additional screen space isn’t always utilized as efficiently as you might expect.

That’s not really a criticism of the Magic V6 itself.

Rather, it’s one of the reasons I’ve become interested in the idea of wide foldables. The Magic V6 excels at productivity because of its aspect ratio. Whether that same aspect ratio remains ideal for modern media consumption is a question I continue to think about.

Cameras that don’t feel like a compromise

The camera system is one of the standout features of the device.

For a foldable, it takes really good photos. Photos I wouldn’t hesitate to post immediately on social media.

I’ve become particularly fond of HONOR’s Authentic Filter and used it extensively throughout my testing. The images look excellent and carry a look that I genuinely enjoy.

I still notice some limitations once I move beyond 6x zoom, but realistically, most users won’t spend much time there.

For everyday photography, the Magic V6 delivers more than enough.

That’s important because it removes one of the traditional compromises associated with foldables. Check out the samples below.

Witcher in Concert night

Food with friends

Taipei streets part 1

Middle Name Coffee and Space

Taipei streets part 2

Instil Coffee

Taipei streets part 3

Taipei at night + Bar Shock

Taipei at night + Backstreet Bar

Side gig

Sushi Party

Apple-friendly and easy to live with

One of the more pleasant surprises was how useful the Apple ecosystem features turned out to be.

Funny story.

I attended a sushi party where one of the guests happened to be an engineer who liked tinkering with hardware. He brought a small development board loaded with chips and components. When powered on, it mimicked the pairing process of AirPods and attempted to communicate with nearby Apple devices.

As he was scanning the room for iPhones, he was surprised to see his setup interacting with the HONOR Magic V6 I was carrying.

It’s a small anecdote, but it serves as a real-world reminder of how much effort HONOR has put into making the device work alongside Apple’s ecosystem.

More practically, I’ve regularly used the Magic V6 to move files between the phone and my MacBook Pro M4. The process is straightforward and useful enough that it naturally became part of my workflow.

The same can be said about durability.

The funny thing is people often comment about how not-so-careful I am with my devices. It’s not that I don’t take care of them. I simply carry a lot of gear at once and sometimes toss things into my bag without thinking too much about it.

Despite that less-than-careful handling, the Magic V6 hasn’t sustained any significant or noticeable damage.

Is the HONOR Magic V6 your GadgetMatch?

The HONOR Magic V6 is the fulfillment of the book-style foldable promise.

It’s a standard-sized smartphone that unfolds into something larger. It unlocks productivity and multitasking capabilities exactly the way you imagine it would.

The weight, thickness, and handling are about as close as you’re going to get to a regular smartphone. What’s remarkable is that HONOR achieved this while also delivering excellent battery life, fast charging, and a camera system that rarely feels like a compromise.

It won’t stop me from being curious about where foldables go next.

But it did remind me how good today’s foldables have already become.

If we’re judging the HONOR Magic V6 based on what a book-style foldable is supposed to be, there is very little left to sacrifice. That’s why I’m giving the Magic V6 the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.